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Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1925, Page 2

MTiu.t: tin* proposal to acquire tin* tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. lor public purposes is tinder consideration. it would he a> well to hear in

mind any alternative propositions which would have the clfeet ot help-

ing tin public at large if the major i|i!i*siiou ef purchase is not acceptable in t|ie Government. In the first place, there i- Hi* matter of inquiring plant iru,a tin Government in the way of suitable trucks to it-'* on the line: ill the second place there is the question o; tit.* ex; I’dieney ol spending. say or .POO. to place the line in order sat.isfaetorv to tin* Government lor the ready me of all trucks: and in the third plaie. there is the matter of the extension of the tramway south so that it mac ha used from the suggested terminal at the southern extremity of Bake Inutile. The first alternative is the lensttsexpeiiMve. It could he ad-

opted in the nature of a try-out to ascertain the volume of traffic possible. The experiment would also be a test of the line to ascertain what damage, if any, the plant might sustain in passing over the tramway. This would be a material answer to tile fears of lilt* experts io tin* matter, am! it' free from accident or damage, would assist i . •: s-ilut ion ol 1 lie present hold up wlii'li bars Go. eminent rolling stock e the I

In regard in ill'' scminl a-lt-eriiati w\ it I ernmes :i mallei' for considera l him whether the Government in \ iu of nil tlio circumstances might not make a Mili-iliinlial contribution towards tho i-osr nt putting the lino in order, cither in cash or in mnieriiil • rails to replace those considered over worn. The (inveniment lias 101 l the district stranded in the matter of railway communication, though Parliament authorised t lie work. There is moral obligation on that, account. Incidentally t.ho Goveinmenf for tin l Government road it (ontrols south of lloss, lias, cost free, roeei ved the free use of the Mikonni bridge for road traflie. Furtlier. hy diverting more heavy traflie liv rail, the length of narrow road through the Mikonni hush will he relieved considerably so that on all grounds the Government would he the gainer. It is considered very iiujnonahle that railway expenditure in South Westland will lie provided for. hut by arrangement with Stuart and Chapman Ltd., a. contribution in the pul.lie interests might well lie made to improve a district tramway which is desired hy the settlers to shorten the drive- for stock, and to facilitate the transport of heavy goods necessary for the improved working of their holdings. As the matter stands a very good ease for Government aid under this head can ke made and strongly sustained.

Tilt: third alternative hears on the extension of the steam tramway as far as the millowners will carry it. The anal objective is Lake lanthe, hut the immediate railhead in sight is Duffer’s Creek. To reach that terminal a Government reserve has to lie crossed, hut a Department is holding up the firm and the enterprise with conditions sought to he imposed which no one would lie disposed to accept, we

told. We are not aware as to the nature of those conditions, hut realise if a Department is blocking an enterprise, as appears to be the ease, then the matter should Ik 1 investigated closely. Now that the matter has been mentioned it should he probed and the exact position made public. H i understood the Forestry Department is blocking the way. In these days when New Zealand wants the expansion of all the enterprise it can secure. a wrong policy is being followed by the prohibitory nature of the conditions. We should sav that the Prime Minister would he the mail to deai fairly with the position if all the fails were placed before him. In the interests of the future of the district that should he done. The Government evidently does not intend to pirosecutc tlie railway south, and in that circumstance should help private enterprise, to do what it shirks doing, when ns in this instance, an important industry. and the settlers in the south eaii Ive helped greatly hy the tramway extension.